PURPOSE
The goal of this study was to find factors for refining candidacy criteria for bilateral hearing aid fittings. Clinical files of 1,000 consecutive hearing aid fittings were analyzed.

METHOD
Case history, audiometric, and rehabilitation data were collected from clinical files, and an extensive questionnaire on long-term outcome measures was conducted. After at least 2 years of hearing aid use, 505 questionnaires were returned. In order to compare differences in benefits between unilateral and bilateral fittings, two subgroups were composed in which most relevant variables (age, degree of hearing loss, and audiometric asymmetry) were matched for unilateral fittings (n=212) and bilateral fittings (n=477).

RESULTS
The bilateral group had significantly higher benefit scores than the unilateral group for detection, speech intelligibility in reverberation, and localization, but poorer scores for comfort of loud sounds. The benefit of bilateral hearing aids was not significantly related to the level of technology of the hearing aids.

CONCLUSION
The analysis of the relation between objective parameters and the subjective outcome measures showed that candidacy for a successful bilateral fitting could not be predicted from age, maximum speech intelligibility, employment, exposure to background noise, or social activities.


BACKGROUND
In this study, patients with hemothorax due to blunt or penetrating thorax trauma and treated by tube thoracostomy were compared with the patients treated by videothoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in order to determine whether VATS can be the first choice in treatment.

METHODS
Sixty patients with hemothorax due to trauma were examined prospectively. Thirty patients with isolated hemothorax and treated by tube thoracostomy were classified as Group I (50%), and 30 patients treated by VATS were classified as Group II (50%). Patients were compared according to healing duration, tube thoracostomy duration, hospitalization duration, success rate of treatment, morbidity, and mortality.

RESULTS
When Group I and II were compared according to the duration of tube thoracostomy and hospitalization, Group I was found to have longer duration statistically (p=0.001). When the two groups were compared according to morbidity, statistical morbidity was found higher in Group I (p=0.030).

CONCLUSION
VATS seems to be better in the treatment of hemothorax when compared with traditional drainage method because of its advantage of direct diagnosis and hemostasis by diagnostic thoracoscopy. If clotted blood is evacuated, empyema and fibrothorax are preventable. In these cases, chest tube duration and hospital length of stay are shorter. Therefore, these patients can be discharged early.


The hepatoprotective properties of methanolic extract of Carica papaya stalk on albino rat were evaluated. To achieve this, the phytochemical screening of the extract was carried out and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) (i.p) was injected into albino rats to liver damage. The rats were simultaneously given oral doses of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg/kg (p.o) of methanolic extract of C. papaya stalk. The effects of this extract on liver total protein concentration, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotranferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase activities of the rats were studied after 7 days period of the experiment. Administration of CCl4 alone to rats significantly increased (p < 0.05) total protein concentration and the activities of the transferases studied in the serum when compared with controls which received distilled water (p.o). Simultaneous treatment of CCl4 injection and oral administration of different doses of the C. papaya stalk extract significantly reduced (p < 0.05) total protein concentration, activities of liver transferases studied. However, the lowest significant reduction (p < 0.05) of total protein concentration and the transferases was observed with simultaneous administration of 100 mg/kg of the extract on the rats. This study suggests that the extract of C. papaya stalk possesses the phytochemicals with antioxidant properties which might be responsible for it capacity to protect the liver from oxidative damage.

 Key words: Hepatotoxicity, phytochemical, liver, Carica papaya, rat.


Organization size and individual seniority are key factors affecting compensation of hospital senior executives. However, a recent survey suggests that an organization's financial performance also influences executive compensation, especially of chief financial officers (CFOs). CFOs can benefit from being at the forefront of this trend in compensation practices.


Although significant improvements have been made in surgical techniques, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the prognosis of the patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) still remain poor (1-3). Therefore, the identification of new molecules involved in the progression of ESCC is worthwhile, and for this, the elucidation of the underlying signaling pathway is important. Recently, Sugase et al. (4) have suggested a novel promising approach for the treatment of ESCC: overexpression of the suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS1).


Because the bony girdle of the pelvis protects the external iliac artery except where it enters the femoral canal, reports of blunt injury to this artery are rare. Emphasizing the importance of a thorough physical examination and judicious use of angiography, this case study discusses the diagnosis and treatment of an isolated external iliac artery injury rendered by a bicycle handlebar, a previously unreported cause of this type of injury.


The article focuses on the reorganization of teaching and educational space, which would be based on the principles of innovation, and its integration into European and world educational space. It is ascertained that one of the priority methods for developing national education is to expand additional free opportunities for physical culture and sports classes in the system of educational institutions; to develop a network of free institutions of physical culture and sports for children and young people outside the system of formal education. The efficiency of recreational technologies in the teaching and educational process in educational institutions which improve the quality of sports and recreational activities and ensure their availability and performance has been proved. It is shown that using elements of floorball sports in the physical education preschool system improves the performance of physical development, physical fitness and psycho-emotional sphere of children of 5 and 6 years of age.


I. Detonation in Acetylene and Pentane Mixtures.— Observations on detona tion in acetylene and pentane mixtures at ordinary pressures with the object of finding the position of detonation in a tube under set conditions, were described in the previous paper. The present paper extends this work, but at higher initial pressures and temperatures. Apart from the study of detonations in engines, and experiments in explosion bombs where the pressure rise is observed, very little appears to have been done to extend the work of Le Chatelier and of Dixon on rate of propagation of com bustion to regions of high pressure. The highest pressure at which explosions were photographed by Le Chatelier and by Dixon were about one and a half to two atmospheres. Woodbury, Canby and Lewis* using a bomb of 12 inches length succeeded in photographing explosions in acetylene air mixtures at pressures up to 4 atmospheres. They also investigated the effect of initial temperature (up to 125° C.). The results are referred to by Brown, Leslie and Hunnf who find that for any initial density or pressure there should be a certain maximum value of the initial temperature to provide a maximum rate of rise of pressure on exploding a given gaseous mixture; decrease in density of charge on rise of temperature overcomes the effects of increase in reaction velocity. J In the present work a steel explosion tube is used provided with a number of windows so that the progress of combustion can be followed by photographing the flame through the windows in the same way as described in the previous paper. The conditions under which explosion is effected in these experiments are nearer those which hold in an internal combustion engine. The region of the usual compression which is employed in an engine is covered by the


Process variations and device aging impose profound challenges for circuit designers. Without a precise understanding of the impact of variations on the delay of circuit paths, guardbands, which keep timing violations at bay, cannot be correctly estimated. This problem is exacerbated for advanced technology nodes, where transistor dimensions reach atomic levels and established margins are severely constrained. Hence, traditional worst-case analysis becomes impractical, resulting in intolerable performance overheads. Contrarily, process-variation/aging-aware static timing analysis (STA) equips designers with accurate statistical delay distributions. Timing guardbands that are small, yet sufficient, can then be effectively estimated. However, such analysis is costly as it requires intensive Monte-Carlo simulations. Further, it necessitates access to confidential physics-based aging models to generate the standard-cell libraries required for STA. In this work, we employ graph neural networks (GNNs) to accurately estimate the impact of process variations and device aging on the delay of any path within a circuit. Our proposed GNN4REL framework empowers designers to perform rapid and accurate reliability estimations without accessing transistor models, standard-cell libraries, or even STA; these components are all incorporated into the GNN model via training by the foundry. Specifically, GNN4REL is trained on a FinFET technology model that is calibrated against industrial 14-nm measurement data. Through our extensive experiments on EPFL and ITC-99 benchmarks, as well as RISC-V processors, we successfully estimate delay degradations of all paths—notably within seconds—with a mean absolute error down to 0.01 percentage points.


MY first title for this paper was the forbidding one of "Adult Education at a Local Centre," but I should not like to raise the idea in the minds of my educationist colleagues that I am desiring to proffer new ideas on educational method,—far from it. I leave that to those who sit in chairs, All I want to do is to state briefly and with candour what my impressions are as to the achievement as I have seen it at my own library centre over a short term of years. I am glad of the opportunity presented in this friendly magazine to say most heartily that I regard my casual work as a voluntary librarian as of as great importance, from the viewpoint of citizenship, as my work in the school. I like school work and teaching, but am not blind to the fact that any influence I have on the scholars is as likely as not to pass away at adolescence. The library work at least is telling; and in this case such influence as I may have is with formed minds. I have seen the broad educational results of the library work to much more effect than in the case of the school work in which one marks time always. I have had young men and young women and older folk come to the library casually, have got to know their tastes, and have seen miracles happen.


Objective: To evaluate the response to cold pulpal sensitivity test in teeth with loss of dentinal structure by non-carious cervical lesion. Methods: Eighteen patients from School of Dentistry of University of Passo Fundo were selected for the present study. In these patients, were analyzed forty single-rooted teeth which filled the inclusion criteria, being divided into two groups: G1 = 20 teeth showing non-carious cervical lesions; and G2 (control) = 20 teeth without loss of dentinal structure. The patients were instructed regarding to pain level, through a visual analog scale which classified the painful response in mild, moderate and severe. From the obtained information, the data were statistically analyzed using nonparametric Kolmogorov-Smirnov test at 5% significance level. Results: The results of the present study have not showed statistically significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2, regarding to response to pulp sensitivity test with cold (p < 0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that teeth with non-carious cervical lesion can demonstrate different levels of response to cold pulp sensitivity test, suggesting that teeth with loss of dentinal structure can or cannot show a response related to pulp sensitivity.


We present a consistent model atmosphere analysis and evolutionary tracks for the very nearby G-type star 82 Eri that was most recently announced by Pepe et al. to harbour two or three super-Earth companions with orbital periods of 18, 40 and 90 d. As a bright and high-velocity object, 82 Eri was already realized by Jan Hendrik Oort in his 1926 treatise to be of 'probably different origin' and we confirm its being a member of the ancient thick-disc population on account of its outstanding iron-to-magnesium deficiency. Thus, in our immediate neighbourhood – only 6 pc away – there exists a system of extremely old and probably rocky super-Earths that were already formed when the Milky Way was at its infancy, 12 or even 13 billion years in the past.


Smallholder farmers in the Western Highlands of Guatemala grow potatoes for subsistence and as a cash crop but their current productivity is 29% lower than the world average. The objective of this study is to provide policy recommendations for improving potato productivity through enhancing technical efficiency in smallholder potato farming in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. In doing so, this study examines the determinants of potato productivity and identifies the sources of technical inefficiency in smallholder potato farming. In addition, the study evaluates the economic welfare impact of potato farm operations and provides policy recommendations for increasing smallholder potato productivity through enhancing technical efficiency. Stochastic production frontier analysis showed that on average farmers are at 57% efficiency. Hence, there is a considerable room for improving efficiency in potato farming. The sources of inefficiency of the farmers were determined to be caused by higher elevation, smaller farm size, and location of the farms. Welfare gains from reaching potential efficiency is US$ 8.79 million in terms of producer surplus per year in Guatemala. Hence, this study provides valuable information for policy makers and farmers for improving technical efficiency and producer surplus. Likewise, providing better conservation practices by extension will ameliorate the low productivity associated with higher elevation and locations that are lower in technical efficiency.


There is considerable agreement that the publication of Edward W. Said's Orientalism in 1978 inaugurated the field known as "postcolonial studies." Building upon the work of Said and other historians and translation theorists, who have written on the social and cultural implications of European colonialism, this doctoral thesis attempts to place the English, Catalan and Spanish writings of the Mallorcan Orientalist and translator Juan Mascaro (1897-1987) - in particular- his translation of the Bhagavad Gita for the Penguin Classics series - in their proper context and thus provide a more comprehensive understanding of the Oriental- ist/Eurocentric premises underlying his work. Though best known for his translations from the Sanskrit and Pali, Mascaro was also a prolific letter-writer whose letters, manuscripts, diaries and notebooks are preserved in three different archives. The principal motivation for pm-suing this PhD project lies in the realization that Mascaro has never received any critical attention in England and that an assessment of his work can contribute to broaden the terms of the debate over the question of Orientalism and Western appropriations of non-European cultures. The thesis is divided into five chapters, preceded by a general introduction and followed by a short conclusion. The first chapter examines the period Mascaro spend as vice-principal of a Hindu college in the British colony of Ceylon; the second studies Mascaro's Orientalist conceptions of Indian culture; the third gives an overview of Western and Indian inteipretations of the Bhagavad Gita and analyses Mascaro's reading of the text within this larger hermeneutical enterprise; the fourth presents a theoretical and practical study of Mascaro's translation of the Gita; the fifth and last chapter covers several subjects, but is mainly concerned with Mascaro's religious viewpoint and his involvement in the inter-faith dialogue. Although the association of Orientalism with Western colonial aspirations does not seem evident in the case of a Catalan-speaking Orientalist, Mascaro's writings attest to the universalist tendencies of Orientalism and are pail of this hegemonic European movement.


Smart grid has emerged as the next-generation power grid via the convergence of power system engineering and information and communication technology. In this article, we describe smart grid goals and tactics, and present a threelayer smart grid network architecture. Following a brief discussion about major challenges in smart grid development, we elaborate on smart grid cyber security issues. We define a taxonomy of basic cyber attacks, upon which sophisticated attack behaviors may be built. We then introduce fundamental security techniques, whose integration is essential for achieving full protection against existing and future sophisticated security attacks. By discussing some interesting open problems, we finally expect to trigger more research efforts in this emerging area.


Catholic feminism has flourished in the decades following Humanae Vitae. Still, Catholic women do not speak with one voice on the issue of birth control. I argue that Humanae Vitae has had far-reaching damaging effects on many Catholic women and their spirituality, moral agency, and fertility. Nevertheless, any feminist critique of the document must also take seriously the experiences of Catholic women who express that practicing natural family planning has brought empowerment, good health, and increased spousal intimacy. Further ecclesial discernment is needed, with special attention to women's leadership on this issue.


A challenge in the field of ecotoxicology is the linkage of alterations at molecular and biochemical levels of organization to adverse outcomes in individuals and populations. In the present study, a predictive relationship between plasma vitellogenin (VTG) concentration and fecundity in female fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) was derived from 21‐d laboratory toxicity tests with five chemicals (17β‐trenbolone, 17α‐trenbolone, prochloraz, fenarimol, and fadrozole) that inhibit VTG production through different mechanisms. Because VTG is key to egg production in female oviparous animals, changes in the lipoprotein could, theoretically, serve as an indicator of reproductive success. Regression of fecundity versus VTG concentration from the various studies yielded a highly significant linear model (fecundity = −0.042 + 0.95‐VTG, p < 0.01, r2 = 0.88). This relationship was integrated into a population model to translate changes in VTG concentrations of female fathead minnows to alterations in population growth. The model predicted relatively profound effects on population size offish experiencing moderate decreases in vitellogenesis. For example, a fathead minnow population at a carrying capacity exposed to a chemical stressor that causes a 25% decrease in VTG concentration in females from baseline values would exhibit a 34.6% projected decrease in size after two years of exposure and reach an equilibrium population size that was only 30.2% of the preexposed population. Overall, the current study provides an example of how changes in a biomarker (VTG concentration) can be quantitatively translated into adverse effects at the individual and population levels.


In the built environment, the distance created between the (environmental) problem and its solution leads to more and more complexity. The process of changing the interrelated public and private services, systems and infrastructures is becoming more and more complicated and less predictable. Together with the increased scaling, the convergence of utilities and the growing number of parties and techniques involved, the end users' (consumers') subjective dependence (heteronomy) has increased. This asks for a simplification of the processes, products (or rather, services). A larger concentration on integral provision of services, or, in other words, the supply and management of integral packages, offers possibilities. This seems to be reinforced by the ongoing liberalization processes. This paper will focus on an innovative concept of integrated decentralised technologies for wastewater and organic waste treatment with energy and nutrients recovery. The concept is called Sustainable Implant (SI). Principally, the concept is based on a small-scale biogas installation (with treatment of blackwater and organic waste), Combined Heat Power (CHP) and accompanying closed glasshouse with 'hanging gardens'. These 'hanging gardens' are situated in a non-ventilated space with heat (and water) recovery, heat/cold storage (in an underlying aquifer) and with injection of the surplus CO2 of the biogas plant. The SI will be realized as a part of this semi-public building and has an interconnecting role between both district and building, inhabitants and visitors. The system layout and the dimensioning backgrounds are explained in this paper. Additional emphasis is put on maintenance, conservation and administration of the integrated whole, and the possible consequences for the district and its inhabitants.


Modern child custody law faces an important challenge in responding to pluralistic and evolving gender and parenting roles. Professor Scott finds rules favoring maternal custody, joint custody, and the best interests of the child wanting; she argues that the optimal response to the current pluralism in family structure is a rule that seeks to replicate past parental roles. This "approximation" standard promotes continuity and stability for children. It encourages cooperative rather than conflictual resolution of custody, thereby ameliorating the destructive effects of bargaining at divorce. It also recognizes and reinforces role change in individual families, encouraging both parents to invest in parenting before and after divorce. Although an approximation approach might disappoint those who believe that custody law can serve as a transformational tool of social reform, Professor Scott argues that mandating conformity to prescribed family roles is costly and ultimately ineffective. Her proposed framework allows families to function according to their individual values and preferences while subtly encouraging the restructuring of parental roles in the direction of desirable reform.


Observations of significant differences in access to credit, loan terms and the volume of lending between demographically distinct groups of borrowers are often interpreted as evidence of ethnic, racial or gender discrimination by lenders. The competitive structure of credit markets and the accuracy of measuring individual credit risk render extant models of lending discrimination based on assumptions of credit market inefficiencies, such as adverse selection, increasingly implausible. In stark contrast to existing models of demographic discrimination, we consider a representative credit market, described described for expositional clarity in the context of mortgage lending, in an economy having complete markets, common knowledge and arbitrage-free pricing. Market equilibria in this classical environment may exhibit discrimination even when borrowers, who are distinguished only by observable demographic traits, share an identical measure of individual credit risk. Relatively costlier loan terms, a higher frequency of loan denials, or a complete rationing of credit to a particular demographic class of borrowers may be a value-maximizing strategy when rational lenders share a common perception that one or more such traits are directly related to adverse features of the representative asset securing the loan to borrowers in this class. Omitted from standard statistical underwriting and regulatory review procedures, these features reduce the value of the collateral available to the lender in the event of future default. When loans are secured by such assets and both lenders and borrowers act strategically, discrimination on this basis will be a property of all market equilibria and can be consistent with a second-best efficient allocation of credit.


Tiller angle and leaf angle are two important components of rice (Oryza sativa) plant architecture that play a crucial role in determining grain yield. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of the Loose Plant Architecture1 (LPA1) gene in rice, the functional ortholog of the AtIDD15/SHOOT GRAVITROPISM5 (SGR5) gene in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). LPA1 regulates tiller angle and leaf angle by controlling the adaxial growth of tiller node and lamina joint. LPA1 was also found to affect shoot gravitropism. Expression pattern analysis suggested that LPA1 influences plant architecture by affecting the gravitropism of leaf sheath pulvinus and lamina joint. However, LPA1 only influences gravity perception or signal transduction in coleoptile gravitropism by regulating the sedimentation rate of amyloplasts, distinct from the actions of LAZY1. LPA1 encodes a plant-specific INDETERMINATE DOMAIN protein and defines a novel subfamily of 28 INDETERMINATE DOMAIN proteins with several unique conserved features. LPA1 is localized in the nucleus and functions as an active transcriptional repressor, an activity mainly conferred by a conserved ethylene response factor-associated amphiphilic repression-like motif. Further analysis suggests that LPA1 participates in a complicated transcriptional and protein interaction network and has evolved novel functions distinct from SGR5. This study not only facilitates the understanding of gravitropism mechanisms but also generates a useful genetic material for rice breeding.


Gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) comprise a heterogenous and diverse group of neoplasms arising from a common neuroendocrine cell origin. The majority of these tumors occur sporadically while ~20% manifest within the context of hereditary syndromes. Germline MEN1 mutations cause a syndrome with an increased susceptibility to multifocal primary GEP NETs. In addition, MEN1 mutations also occur in sporadic GEP NETs. MEN1 alternations are the most frequent sporadic mutation found in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs). We explore the implication of the loss of the MEN1 encoded protein menin as a key pathogenic driver in subsets of GEP NETs with downstream consequences including upregulation of the oncogenic receptor c-MET (hepatocyte growth factor receptor). This review will summarize the data related to the clinical presentation, therapeutic standards, and outcomes of sporadic and MEN1 associated GEP NETs. We present the data on c-MET expression in GEP NETs, clinical trials using c-MET inhibtors, and provide an overview of the molecular mechanisms by which c-MET inhibition in GEP NETs represents a potential precision-medicine targeted approach.


The dopamine D2 and D3 receptors (D2R and D3R) are important targets for antipsychotics and for the treatment of drug abuse. SB269652, a bitopic ligand that simultaneously binds both the orthosteric binding site (OBS) and a secondary binding pocket (SBP) in both D2R and D3R, was found to be a negative allosteric modulator. Previous studies identified Glu2.65 in the SBP to be a key determinant of both the affinity of SB269652 and the magnitude of its cooperativity with orthosteric ligands, as the E2.65A mutation decreased both of these parameters. However, the proposed hydrogen bond (H-bond) between Glu2.65 and the indole moiety of SB269652 is not a strong interaction, and a structure activity relationship study of SB269652 indicates that this H-bond may not be the only element that determines its allosteric properties. To understand the structural basis of the observed phenotype of E2.65A, we carried out molecular dynamics simulations with a cumulative length of ~77 μs of D2R and D3R wild-type and their E2.65A mutants bound to SB269652. In combination with Markov state model analysis and by characterizing the equilibria of ligand binding modes in different conditions, we found that in both D2R and D3R, whereas the tetrahydroisoquinoline moiety of SB269652 is stably bound in the OBS, the indole-2-carboxamide moiety is dynamic and only intermittently forms H-bonds with Glu2.65. Our results also indicate that the E2.65A mutation significantly affects the overall shape and size of the SBP, as well as the conformation of the N terminus. Thus, our findings suggest that the key role of Glu2.65 in mediating the allosteric properties of SB269652 extends beyond a direct interaction with SB269652, and provide structural insights for rational design of SB269652 derivatives that may retain its allosteric properties.


Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD), an emerging international climate change mitigation mechanism, would compensate developing countries with threatened forests for their conservation and reforestation efforts. The implications of this new scheme for governments, forests, communities and their development are still unclear. The preparation for REDD that is taking place in many countries includes little concern for this mechanism's potential impacts on the rights and livelihoods of forest-dependent communities who have yet to be consulted. This paper analyzes both precedents and the current process of REDD readiness in Nepal, revealing discrepancies in forest governance that must be addressed before this carbon trading mechanism can successfully meet climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, or development goals. This paper finds that REDD readiness and policy formulation is being driven from the top down, with insufficient involvement and influence by local communities in planning and decision-making processes, and that a more adaptive, bottom-up approach is needed if REDD is to be economically beneficial, socially equitable, and environmentally sustainable in the long term.


Introduction Pharmacist provision of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) through collaborative practice agreements with physicians could expand access to people at risk for HIV. We characterized pharmacists' familiarity with and willingness to provide PrEP services in Nebraska and Iowa. Methods An invitation to complete an 18-question survey was emailed to 1,140 pharmacists in Nebraska and Iowa in June and July of 2016. Descriptive analyses and Pearson chi-square tests were used to determine to what extent demographics, familiarity and experience were associated with respondent willingness to provide PrEP. Wilcoxon rank-sum tests compared ages and years of experience between groups of respondents. Results One hundred forty pharmacists (12.3%) responded. Less than half were familiar with the use of PrEP (42%) or the CDC guidelines for its use (25%). Respondents who were older (p = .015) and in practice longer (p = .005) were less likely to be familiar with PrEP. Overall, 54% indicated they were fairly or very likely to provide PrEP services as part of a collaborative practice agreement and after additional training. While familiarity with PrEP use or guidelines did not affect respondents' willingness to provide PrEP, respondents were more likely to provide PrEP with prior experience counseling HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy (OR 2.43; p = 0.023) or PrEP (OR 4.67; p = 0.013), and with prior HIV-related continuing education (OR 2.77; p = 0.032). Conclusions Pharmacist respondents in Nebraska and Iowa had limited familiarity and experience with PrEP, but most indicated willingness to provide PrEP through collaborative practice agreements after additional training. Provision of PrEP-focused continuing education may lead to increased willingness to participate in PrEP programs.


Popular e-commerce websites such as Amazon offer community question answering systems for users to pose product-related questions and experienced customers may provide answers voluntarily. In this paper, we show that the large volume of existing community question answering data can be beneficial when building a system for answering questions related to product facts and specifications. Our experimental results demonstrate that the performance of a model for answering questions related to products listed in the Home Depot website can be improved by a large margin via a simple transfer learning technique from an existing large-scale Amazon community question answering dataset. Transfer learning can result in an increase of about 10% in accuracy in the experimental setting where we restrict the size of the data of the target task used for training. As an application of this work, we integrate the best performing model trained in this work into a mobile-based shopping assistant and show its usefulness.


Over a period of 2 years we reviewed the CT scans of 217 patients with recurrent sinusitis. Our findings revealed a number of cases of osteomeatal complex disease with no frontal sinus involvement. This result is difficult to reconcile with the concept of a common drainage in the middle meatus shared by the frontal and anterior ethmoid sinuses. We conclude that the frontal sinus drains separately from the other paranasal sinuses in a large percentage of cases, and that the frontal sinus is frequently spared when there is ethmoid or maxillary sinusitis.


BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common pathogenic bacteria that causes chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. It is very difficult to treat H. pylori bacterial infections, in part due to its polymorphisms. The objective of this study was to identify critical contributors to the pathogenicity of H. pylori bacteria through bibliometric screening of pathogenic genes.

METHODS
The pathogenic genes of H. pylori strain 26695 were collected from major publication databases using the bibliometric approach. Information about the pathways, operons, and functions of these genes was obtained from the KEGG and DOOR databases.

RESULTS
We inferred that HP0067, HP0069, HP1109, HP1036, and HP1037 are key pathogenic genes in H. pylori pathogenicity. These genes provided new targets for the clinical diagnosis and prognosis judgment of H. pylori.

CONCLUSIONS
Finally, this study may serve as a model for other genomic level studies when more H. pylori genomes become available. These results lay a theoretical foundation for further studies on the detection of novel pathogenic genes and relevant clinical analyses.


Because human patients with monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection report painful symptoms, it is reasonable to assume that animals infected with MPXV experience some degree of pain. Understanding whether and how analgesics affect MPXV disease progression is crucial when planning in vivo challenge experiments. In the current study, we challenged prairie dogs with a low dose (4 × 103 pfu) of MPXV and treated with meloxicam (NSAID) or buprenorphine (opioid); control animals did not receive analgesia or received analgesia without MPXV challenge. Subsets of animals from each group were seriallyeuthanized during the course of the study. Disease progression and viral kinetics were similar between groups, but MXPV infected,meloxicam-treated animals showed increasing trends of morbidity and mortality compared with other groups. Differences between no-analgesia MPXV-infected control animals and MPXV-infected animals treated with buprenorphine were minimal. The findings in the current study allow more informed decisions concerning the use of analgesics duringexperimental MPXV challenge studies, thereby improving animal welfare. In light of these findings, we have modified ourpain scale for this animal model to include the use of buprenorphine for pain relief when warranted after MPXV challenge.


Despite the recent growth of research on workplace bullying researchers have had little opportunity to study how individuals come to be labeled as bullies. While bullying is sometimes described in terms of individuals" perceptions, researchers lack a framework for working through the subjectivities on both sides of the labelling process. Using the lens of sensemaking (Weick 1995), this paper considers stories of bullying related by participants in public service organisations in Australia, where data was collected from the alleged perpetrators as well as from "victims", bystanders and those charged with managing complaints of bullying. Our goal is to raise alternative perspectives for interpreting bullying scenarios and to commence a process of highlighting some different options for managers and researchers seeking to understand actions labelled as bullying. Sensemaking theory offers quite a different and detailed account of the social construction processes that might go into the use of such a label.


A general approach to controlling and modelling friction and wear in sliding contacts with coated surfaces is presented. The tribological aspects of the main material parameters, elasticity, plasticity and fracture are discussed. The contact condition with a rigid sphere sliding over a steel plate coated with a very thin hard coating is analyzed. The dominant parameters for friction and wear performance are identified and the appropriate material parameters needed for controlling the tribological contact is proposed. A Three Dimensional Finite Element Method (3D FEM) model has been developed for calculating both the first principal stress distribution and real stress components in the scratch tester contact of a diamond spherical tip moving with increased load on a titanium nitride (TiN) coated steel surface. The three dimensional model is comprehensive in that sense that it considers elastic, plastic and fracture behaviour of the contacting surfaces. Three main regions of stress concentration during the scratching action are identified and shown by simulated stress animations. The loading mechanisms and the stress development in each of these regions are described. The first cracks to occur on the surface of a steel plate coated with a 2 micrometer thick TiN coating sliding against a spherical diamond tip are shown. They are in an angular direction to the formed contact groove at the side edge of the groove due to the two directional high stresses in the side-stress region. This corresponds to empirical observations. By identifying from a scratch experiment the location of the first crack and using this as input data can the fracture toughness of the coating be determined. The influence of the coating thickness and elastic modulus on the stresses and strains generated during the sliding process is demonstrated.Copyright © 2005 by ASME


Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy of nonsurgical periodontal treatment with and without Nd:YAG laser (NDL) applications in smoking and nonsmoking patients with moderate chronic periodontitis (CP). Materials and methods: The study population consisted of 52 patients with generalized moderate CP. The study compared the clinical effects of scaling and root planing (SRP) and SRP plus NDL in periodontal pockets measuring between 4 and 6 mm of smoking and nonsmoking patients with CP. The study patients were divided into four groups: Group 1: test teeth in smoker patients (ST; n = 52 teeth); Group 2: placebo teeth in smoker patients (SP; n = 52 teeth); Group 3: test teeth in nonsmoker patients (NST; n = 52 teeth); and Group 4: placebo teeth in nonsmoker patients (NSP; n = 52 teeth). Clinical examinations were performed immediately before SRP (the baseline) as well as 1 month (R1) and 6 months (R2) after treatment. Results: The recovery for pocket depth (PD), gingival index (GI), and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) volume in the NST group was higher than in both smoker groups ( p < 0.05). Additionally, the changes for each of these parameters in the NSP group were higher than for the SP group ( p < 0.05) at R1 and R2. SRP plus NDL application versus SRP application alone did not lead to significant differences in any clinical parameters or in GCF volume between the two groups of patients who smoked ( p > 0.05), whereas statistically significant differences existed for PD between nonsmoker groups at R1 and R2 ( p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our results supported the idea that NDL applications provide additional benefits in the periodontal treatment of smokers.


INTRODUCTION
Retractile testis may affect testicular parenchyma and spermatogenesis, and surgical treatment has been recommended for infertile men with retractile testes. We evaluated outcomes of orchidopexy in men with idiopathic infertility who suffered from bilateral retractile testes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
We performed dartos pouch orchidopexy on 22 men with idiopathic infertility and bilateral retractile testes. The patients were subsequently followed up for 1 year and sperm parameters were assessed at 3-month intervals. Testicular volume was determined by ultrasonography 1 year postoperatively and compared with that before orchidopexy. Satisfaction with the appearance of the external genitalia, sexual desire, and the ability to have successful intercourse were assessed through a Likert-scale questionnaire.

RESULTS
Before the operation, the mean testicular volume was 12.2 +/- 5.0% lower than the lower normal limit of the testis volume in adults, and no clinically significant change was observed 1 year after the operation. Sperm density showed no significant changes postoperatively, but the mean proportion of sperms with high-grade motility witnessed a significant increase 1 year after the operation (P = .007). The mean percentage of sperms with normal morphology had a significant decrease at 1 postoperative year. Significant improvements were reported in satisfaction with the appearance of the external genitalia, sexual desire, and successful intercourse 1 year after the operation.

CONCLUSION
Retractile testes might be at risk of growth retardation. We found that orchidopexy in retractile testes may improve sperm motility and increase fertility potential of the patients. We recommend orchidopexy in infertile men with bilateral retractile testes.


In small mammals, partial pneumonectomy (PNX) elicits rapid hyperplastic compensatory growth of the remaining lung parenchyma to restore normal lung mass, structure, and function. In BALB mice subjected to PNX, compensatory lung growth is complete within 10 days. Because cellular hyperplasia contributes to the mechanism of tumor promotion by butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), we hypothesized that hyperplastic compensatory lung growth would promote tumor formation in carcinogentreated animals in a manner similar to that observed after BHT. In mice subjected to PNX, within 1 week of treatment with the carcinogen 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA; 10 mg/g body weight), lung tumor multiplicity was 3–7-fold higher in animals subjected to PNX than in mice subjected to a sham operation. The increase in tumor multiplicity occurred when PNX was performed 1, 3, and 6 days before or 1 day after MCA treatment. In the absence of PNX, lung tumor multiplicity in MCA-treated mice given one injection of BHT (200 mg/kg body weight) increased significantly (P < 0.01) as compared to that in mice given MCA alone. Tumor multiplicity continued to increase linearly (R 5 0.99) with each subsequent BHT injection. Lung tumor multiplicity and tumor size in mice given one or two injections of BHT were comparable to those in animals subjected to PNX. These data demonstrate that post-PNX compensatory lung growth stimulates tumorigenesis in MCA-treated mice and provides a novel model for investigating tumor formation.


The story of Timothy Treadwell, as portrayed in Werner Herzog's film (2005), provides a basis for a critique of two opposing attitudes and programmes which can be identified, in broad metaphysical terms, as spiritual idealism and scientific materialism. I criticize the former, inferring from Treadwell's fate the danger – for spiritual seekers, directly, and for scholars, indirectly – of trying to be at-one or achieve absolute unity with the beloved. I then recommend a radical but viable middle way, grounded in our embodied, imperfect, unstable, liminal nature – a view clearly evident in aboriginal and folk wisdom traditions but also articulated by philosophers including Merleau-Ponty, Plumwood, Abram, Snyder and Bateson.


THE EFFECT OF LENTILS ON POSTPRANDIAL GLYCEMIC RESPONSE IN HEALTHY ADULTS AND THE ABILITY OF IN VITRO DIGESTION TO PREDICT GLYCEMIC RESPONSE Dita Moravek Advisors: University of Guelph Dr. Alison M. Duncan Dr. Dan D. Ramdath Diets rich in carbohydrates that have a low glycemic index (GI) are inversely associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk (Ley et al. 2016) due to the favourable postprandial glycemic response (PPGR). Whether substituting pulses, such as lentils, for a portion of a different starchy foods improves PPGR is unknown. The objectives of this research were: 1) to determine the effects on PPGR of consuming rice or potato alone or in combination with lentils, 2) to determine the effects on PPGR of consuming lentil-based food products compared to the same (control) foods prepared with high-GI starches, and 3) to relate the composition of lentil starch to in vivo PPGR and in vitro digestion variables. For objective #1, healthy adults completed a randomized, crossover clinical trial in which acute glycemic response was examined following consumption of rice (n=24) or potato (n=24) alone or in combination with one of three lentil varieties (large green, small green or split red). Blood glucose incremental area under the curve (iAUC) and maximum concentration (CMAX) were significantly lower following the small green and split red lentil treatments compared to the rice control and for all lentil treatments compared to potato control. For objective #2, healthy adults completed a randomized, crossover clinical trial in which acute glycemic response was examined following consumption of food products (muffin, n=24; chili, n=24; soup, n=20) that contained one of two different lentil varieties (small green or split red) or a commonly consumed starch source (wheat, rice or potato). Blood glucose iAUC and CMAX were significantly lower following lentil-containing chilies and soups compared to controls, while only the blood glucose iAUC for red lentil muffins was significantly lower compared to the control. Finally, the data from these trials was used in combination with in vitro data to explore relationships and discover if in vitro measurements could predict in vivo PPGR. Although more methodological consistency was required to produce reliable relationships, in vitro measurements were strongly correlated with in vivo glycemic and insulinemic responses. These results support the consumption of lentils to attenuate postprandial glycemia.


ABSTRACT The number of studies where the primary measurement is a matrix is exploding. In response to this, we propose a statistical framework for modeling populations of repeatedly observed matrix-variate measurements. The 2D structure is handled via a matrix-variate distribution with decomposable row/column-specific covariance matrices and a linear mixed effect framework is used to model the multilevel design. The proposed framework flexibly expands to accommodate many common crossed and nested designs and introduces two important concepts: the between-subject distance and intraclass correlation coefficient, both defined for matrix-variate data. The computational feasibility and performance of the approach is shown in extensive simulation studies. The method is motivated by and applied to a study that monitored physical activity of individuals diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) over a 4- to 9-month period. The long-term patterns of physical activity are studied and compared in two CHF subgroups: with and without adverse clinical events. Supplementary materials for this article, that include de-identified accelerometry and clinical data, are available online.


Focusing mostly on the territorial dispute over the "Northern Territories" this chapter explores the relationship between public preferences and policymaking in Japan's relations with the USSR and Russia. The chapter is divided into four sections. The introductory section provides a brief overview of the history of the territorial dispute and related negotiations between Japan and the USSR/Russia. The second section explores the dynamics in the Japanese public opinion related to the dispute, the factors that shaped it, and its relationship with state policy. The third section examines the role of the dispute in other areas of bilateral relations. The concluding section summarizes the arguments made in this chapter and offers some observations regarding the factors that explain the relationship between public opinion and policymaking in the case of the Northern Territories dispute. The main argument of this chapter is that public preferences played a rather limited role in shaping Japan's Northern Territories–related policy. This can be attributed to a number of factors, including the relatively small size of the issue public, voting behavior, the centrality of bureaucracy in policymaking, and the minimal impact of the territorial dispute on other areas of bilateral relations.


This article provides a follow-up evaluation of 'Strike Force Piccadilly'-a successful New South Wales Police public-private partnership to combat Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) ram raids [Prenzler, T. (2009). 'Strike Force Piccadilly: A Public-Private Partnership to Stop ATM Ram Raids.' Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management 32: 209-225]. The original study showed a significant reduction in raids 12 months after the implementation of a range of countermeasures including a 1800 police hotline, relocation of ATMs, and the installation of anti-ramming devices. The present study adds 2 years of additional data from 2008 to 2010. It was found that the reduction in ram raids was sustained and reduced even further. At the same time, there was a shift in offender tactics to the use of explosive 'gas attacks' in 2008. This problem was in turn minimized by police investigations, the incapacitation of gang members, and the installation of gas detection and disabling equipment. The follow-up study reinforced the value of public-private crime reduction partnerships and the need to be adaptive to new threats.


Recent work based on the American Time Use Survey (2011-2013) provided estimates of matrices of "who provides care to whom" by age and sex within care activities in the U.S. In this paper, we build on that line of research by evaluating the strength of race, ethnicity, and national origin as proxy indicators of cultural propensities to engage in informal care. Our results point to several key differences and similarities between groups based on their characteristics. For example, we find that compared to other groups, native-born African American men exhibit the lowest child care participation and transfer rates, whereas foreign-born Hispanics of any race have significantly higher rates of daily participation in child care. Moreover, we find that the propensity to provide adult care is largely dependent on socio-economic characteristics and household structure. However, our models indicate that neither race/ethnicity nor nativity are strong predictors of the observed differences when household composition and socio-economic factors are taken into account. Thus, we believe that more complex cultural factors are at play. As an illustrative example of the consequences of demographic change, we introduce the care support ratio (CSR), which is a measure of macro-level dependency for non-market transfers. The application of the CSR indicates that future informal care time deficits may result from the growing care needs of the ageing population.


The conductance of two Anderson impurity models, one with two-fold and another with four-fold degeneracy, representing two types of quantum dots, is calculated using a world-line quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) method. Extrapolation of the imaginary time QMC data to zero frequency yields the linear conductance, which is then compared to numerical renormalization group results in order to assess its accuracy. We find that the method gives excellent results at low temperature (T<Tk) throughout the mixed valence and Kondo regimes, but it is unreliable for higher temperature.


This book inventories all available (and some unavailable) names in the family, genus, and species groups of extant members of orders Actiniaria and Corallimorpharia [cnidarian subclass Hexacorallia (Zoantharia) of class Anthozoa], providing a benchmark of names, their status, and taxon membership. I have attempted to make the compilation complete as of 2010; some names created after 2010 are included. The book is derived from a database I compiled that was available through a website. Most of the book is from the literature that defines taxa and documents their geographic distribution-primarily publications on nomenclature, taxonomy, and biogeography, but also some on ecology, pharmacology, reproductive biology, physiology, etc. of anemones (the common name for these groups); the reference section comprises 845 entries. As for previous anemone catalogs, this contains taxonomic as well as nomenclatural information,  the former based on subjective opinion of working biologists, the latter objectively verifiable and unchanging (except by action of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature).        Each family-group name, genus-group name, and original combination for species-group names has an entry. The entry contains the bibliographic reference to the publication in which each name was made available. This book contains for Corallimorpharia seven family names (four considered valid [57%]), 20 generic names (10 considered valid [50%] and one unavailable), and 65 species names (46 considered valid [70%]). It contains for Actiniaria 86 family names (50 considered valid [58%] and three unavailable), 447 generic names (264 considered valid [59%] and two unavailable), and 1427 species names (1101 considered valid [77%] and nine unavailable). Type specimens are inventoried from more than 50 natural history museums in Africa, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, and North America, including those with the largest collections of anemones; the geographic sources of specimens that were the bases of new names are identified. I resolve some nomenclatural issues, acting as First Reviser. A few taxonomic opinions are published for the first time. I have been unable to resolve a small number of problematic names having both nomenclatural and taxonomic problems. Molecular phylogenetic analyses are changing assignment of genera to families and species to genera. Systematics may change, but the basics of nomenclature remain unchanged in face of such alterations.        All actions are in accord with the principles of nomenclature enunciated in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. These include the type concept, the Principle of Coordination, and the Principle of Priority. Nomenclatural acts include the creation of new replacement names; seven actiniarian generic names and one species name that are junior homonyms but have been treated as valid are replaced and an eighth new genus name is created. I designate type species for two genera. Except for published misspellings, names are rendered correctly according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature; I have altered spelling of some species names to conform to orthographic regulations. I place several species that had been assigned to genera now considered junior synonyms in the genus to which the type species was moved; experts on these anemones should determine whether those generic placements, which follow the nomenclatural rules, are taxonomically appropriate.        This inventory can be a useful starting point in assembling the literature and trying to understand the rationale for the creation and use of names for the taxonomic matters yet to be resolved.  Some nomenclatural conundra will not be resolved until taxonomic uncertainties are. A taxonomist familiar with the animals needs to ascertain whether the published synonymies are justified. If so, the senior synonym should be used, which, in many instances, will involve determining the proper generic assignment of the species and the correct rendering of the name; if changing the name would be disruptive, retaining the junior name would require an appeal to the Commission (Code Article 23.11).


Do online platforms facilitate the consumption of potentially harmful content? Using paired behavioral and survey data provided by participants recruited from a representative sample in 2020 (n=1,181), we show that exposure to alternative and extremist channel videos on YouTube is heavily concentrated among a small group of people with high prior levels of gender and racial resentment. These viewers often subscribe to these channels (prompting recommendations to their videos) and follow external links to them. In contrast, non-subscribers rarely see or follow recommendations to videos from these channels. Our findings suggest YouTube's algorithms were not sending people down"rabbit holes"during our observation window in 2020, possibly due to changes that the company made to its recommender system in 2019. However, the platform continues to play a key role in facilitating exposure to content from alternative and extremist channels among dedicated audiences.


An eco-friendly multicomponent reaction for the synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles using a recoverable and recyclable Cu/SiO2 composite as the catalyst is reported. The reaction proceeds by mixing the benzyl halide, sodium azide, the alkyne and the catalyst in an aqueous medium to afford the desired products in excellent yields. The heterogeneous catalytic system showed high efficiency, performing the multicomponent Huisgen reaction in a green approach based on recoverability, recyclability and avoidance of waste. Microwave irradiation was also applied, substituting for conventional heating, resulting in excellent yields of the products with a dramatic reduction in the reaction time.


The purpose of this thesis is to serve as systematic literature review that provides a background on regenerative therapy in dentistry, as well as proposing the need for continued research. Regenerative dentistry has great potential for stem cell use. Stem cells of many types have the capability of self-renewal and differentiation into multiple cell types. With stem cell-based regeneration, dentistry can grow exponentially with the implementation whole-tooth replacement, pulp regeneration, periodontium regeneration, enamel regeneration, and dentin regeneration. Furthermore, utilizing various biomaterial scaffolds and inducing growth factor activity has been demonstrated to aid in regenerative efforts. Issues of regenerative therapies must also be considered. Once all methods, techniques, and issues have been developed and resolved, the future implications of regenerative dentistry may then be considered. There currently appears to be great promise in regenerative dentistry. Before the field can make an official emergence, more research and studies must be conducted.


A general and computationally efficient approach evaluating the central-force potentials for interaction of rotationally and vibrationally excited molecules and molecular ions is presented. Examples of numerical calculations are given for interactions of diatomic systems (H2, N2 and O2) in ground electronic states. The approach can be applied in a straightforward way to interactions of atoms and atomic ions with diatomic molecules in arbitrary rotational-vibrational states.


In this paper, we propose a class of multivariate random effects models allowing for the inclusion of study‐level covariates to carry out meta‐analyses. As existing algorithms for computing maximum likelihood estimates often converge poorly or may not converge at all when the random effects are multi‐dimensional, we develop an efficient expectation–maximization algorithm for fitting multi‐dimensional random effects regression models. In addition, we also develop a new methodology for carrying out variable selection with study‐level covariates. We examine the performance of the proposed methodology via a simulation study. We apply the proposed methodology to analyze metadata from 26 studies involving statins as a monotherapy and in combination with ezetimibe. In particular, we compare the low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol‐lowering efficacy of monotherapy and combination therapy on two patient populations (naïve and non‐naïve patients to statin monotherapy at baseline), controlling for aggregate covariates. The proposed methodology is quite general and can be applied in any meta‐analysis setting for a wide range of scientific applications and therefore offers new analytic methods of clinical importance. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


: Octopamine, a biogenic amine, is synthesized and stored within centrifugal (efferent) fibers that project from the brain to the lateral and ventral eyes of the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus. The experiments described here show that depolarization of Limulus lateral and ventral eyes, produced by elevating the concentration of extracellular K+, causes the selective release of newly synthesized octopamine from centrifugal fibers in a manner that requires the influx of extracellular Ca2+. Conjugates of octopamine and tyramine that are also stored within centrifugal fibers are not released in response to K+-induced depolarization. These findings add further support to the hypothesis that octopamine is a neurotransmitter synthesized by and released from centrifugal fibers in Limulus eyes. This amine may be responsible for many of the alterations in lateral eye structure and function that are mediated by centrifugal inner-vation.


Adult attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a significant and prevalent disorder. ADHD can impair adults' quality of life, so clinicians in multiple specialties should be able to recognize and treat the disorder. Much of the current literature has focused on childhood ADHD. However, adult ADHD is a common comorbidity in patients with mental illness, and it is essential that patients diagnosed with the disorder are treated appropriately, which can significantly improve outcomes. Adults with untreated ADHD are more likely to have substance dependence, job instability, and an overall poorer quality of life. This article reviews the screening and assessment for adult ADHD along with pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic recommendations for the management of the disorder.


AIM 1) To identify the principal radiological signs of atypical pulmonary mycobacteriosis by means of X-rays and CT/HRCT; 2) to compare the two methods in order to evaluate their reliability with particular interest for the diagnostic role of HRCT in the identification of the disease; 3) to establish any significant differences in the pathology between AIDS and immunocompetent patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS The chest X-rays and CT/HRCT of 28 atypical pulmonary mycobacteriosis patients (16 with AIDS and 12 immunocompetent) have been studied. The subjects were examined during the period of October 1993 to May 2000 and were found to be positive for atypical mycobacterium and consequently underwent a standard chest X-ray. Twenty cases were followed-up with a chest CT/HRCT; of these only 17 were performed within 30 days of the traditional chest X-ray which was considered to be the time limit in order to validate the comparison between the two methods. RESULTS The significant semeiotical findings were the parenchymal consolidations observed in 25 patients (89%) by standard chest X-rays; the CT/HRCT confirmed the findings in 4 cases while in 13 it enhanced the evaluation of their extensions. In 9 cases the standard chest X-ray established the presence of cavitations which were confirmed by the CT/HRCT in only 7 cases. Lymphadenopathy was observed in 3/28 patients (10.7%) through standard X-rays and in 15/17 cases (82%) through CT/HRCT. The latter method revealed to be extremely useful in the identification of this pathology. Nodules and micronodules were seen in 5 patients with traditional X-rays and in 9 cases with CT/HRCT. Bronchogenic spread signs of disease became visible only with CT and in particular with HRCT (11/17 patients = 65%). Comparing the two groups (AIDS and immunocompetent) taken into consideration, the most frequent lesion present in both was parenchymal consolidation resulting more bilateral in the AIDS subjects. Cavitation and pleural edema were seen more often in the AIDS group while bronchiectasia, bronchogenic spread and signs of previous pleuro-parenchymal suffering were more frequent in the immunocompetent patients. Lymphadenopathy was frequently found in the total study population but appeared slightly prevalent for the group not afflicted with AIDS. CONCLUSION Radiological study of the chest permitted the identification of signs useful in the diagnosis of mycobacteriosis in all the patients studied. The application of CT/HRCT added helpful elements in almost all of the cases examined demonstrating to be more effective than the standard chest X-ray not only in terms of improved evaluation of known lesions but also in the identification of lesions which are difficult to determine by means of traditional radiology.


INTRODUCTION
Leptospirosis is a zoonosis that affects both humans and animals. Dogs may serve as sentinels and indicators of environmental contamination as well as potential carriers for Leptospira. This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence and seroincidence of leptospirosis infection in dogs in an urban low-income community in southern Brazil where human leptospirosis is endemic.

METHODS
A prospective cohort study was designed that consisted of sampling at recruitment and four consecutive trimestral follow-up sampling trials. All households in the area were visited, and those that owned dogs were invited to participate in the study. The seroprevalence (MAT titers ≥100) of Leptospira infection in dogs was calculated for each visit, the seroincidence (seroconversion or four-fold increase in serogroup-specific MAT titer) density rate was calculated for each follow-up, and a global seroincidence density rate was calculated for the overall period.

RESULTS
A total of 378 dogs and 902.7 dog-trimesters were recruited and followed, respectively. The seroprevalence of infection ranged from 9.3% (95% CI; 6.7 - 12.6) to 19% (14.1 - 25.2), the seroincidence density rate of infection ranged from 6% (3.3 - 10.6) to 15.3% (10.8 - 21.2), and the global seroincidence density rate of infection was 11% (9.1 - 13.2) per dog-trimester. Canicola and Icterohaemorraghiae were the most frequent incident serogroups observed in all follow-ups.

CONCLUSIONS
Follow-ups with mean trimester intervals were incapable of detecting any increase in seroprevalence due to seroincident cases of canine leptospirosis, suggesting that antibody titers may fall within three months. Further studies on incident infections, disease burden or risk factors for incident Leptospira cases should take into account the detectable lifespan of the antibody.


The seasonal evolution of water vapour in the stratosphere of the southern hemisphere is studied by using water vapour measurements made by the Microwave Limb Sounder on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite. This evolution is interpreted with the aid of meteorological fields produced at the UK Meteorological Office by data assimilation. The processes governing the distribution of water vapour are clarified by focusing on the physical and dynamical conditions in and around the stratospheric polar vortex. Sustained diabatic descent in the vortex causes isopleths of water vapour mixing ratio to dip down markedly in the polar vortex, strengthening radial gradients of water vapour in the westerly jet, while stretching and folding of material lines in anticyclones adjacent to the polar vortex leads to a widening zone of weak horizontal gradients of water vapour. The circulation is discussed in terms of the dynamics of interacting vortices. Two different flow regimes are identified : (a) mid and late southern winter, with a strong polar vortex and one or more eastward-travelling anticyclone ; and (b) spring, with a relatively weak polar vortex and a quasi-stationary anticyclone. The phenomenon of merger of anticyclones, already observed in the stratosphere of the northern hemisphere, is documented for the southern hemisphere. A detailed study of the tracer transport during merger is made by computing the isentropic advection of many thousands of particles. A comparison is made of the seasonal evolution of water vapour in the stratosphere of the southern and northern hemispheres.


We propose a novel way to incorporate expert knowledge into the training of deep neural networks. Many approaches encode domain constraints directly into the network architecture, requiring non-trivial or domain-specific engineering. In contrast, our approach, called MultiplexNet, represents domain knowledge as a quantifier-free logical formula in disjunctive normal form (DNF) which is easy to encode and to elicit from human experts. It introduces a latent Categorical variable that learns to choose which constraint term optimizes the error function of the network and it compiles the constraints directly into the output of existing learning algorithms. We demonstrate the efficacy of this approach empirically on several classical deep learning tasks, such as density estimation and classification in both supervised and unsupervised settings where prior knowledge about the domains was expressed as logical constraints. Our results show that the MultiplexNet approach learned to approximate unknown distributions well, often requiring fewer data samples than the alternative approaches. In some cases, MultiplexNet finds better solutions than the baselines; or solutions that could not be achieved with the alternative approaches. Our contribution is in encoding domain knowledge in a way that facilitates inference. We specifically focus on quantifier-free logical formulae that are specified over the output domain of a network. We show that this approach is both efficient and general; and critically, our approach guarantees 100% constraint satisfaction in a network's output.


There is a constantly growing research interest for Educational Robotics and its effects to the development of student skills. Many researchers conclude and state that E.R develops and increases the collaboration skills of students, without presenting a specific strategy or a methodology that supports the whole process. In addition, the reports are not supported by measurable results or observations of elements that comprise the collaboration skills. This research focuses at the creation of the appropriate conditions, strategy and methodology in order for collaboration skills to find solid foundations for development. It is important to be stated that collaboration is not seen as the means to produce learning outcomes, but collaboration and collaboration skills are perceived to be the outcome of this approach. The aim of this article is to provide a visual depiction of our proposed approach.


In future generation wireless access networks, the users will have the chance of choosing among multiple connectivity opportunities provided by different access networks (network selection problem). Moreover, the network operators themselves will have to implement effective resource allocation strategies taking wise decisions on the used technologies, frequencies, power levels, etc. This paper proposes a game-theoretic framework to model the problems of network selection and resource allocation, capturing the interdependencies of decisions taken by different players (users vs networks). Namely, we cast the problem as a non-cooperative game where users and access networks act selfishly according their specific objectives: maximization of the perceived quality of service for the end users, maximization of the number of customers for the access networks. We characterize the equilibria of the game by resorting to mathematical programming, and we derive numerical results to assess the "quality" of the equilibria.


The purpose of this research note was to compare Detroit police officers with other City of Detroit employees in terms of the length of their retirements and the age at which they die. Data on retired and deceased police officers and other city employees were obtained from the City of Detroit (N = 7,325). Ordinary least squares regression equations were estimated using age at death and length of retirement as dependent variables. The results show that retired officers die significantly younger than other retired city employees and that officers have significantly shorter retirements prior to death than other city employees. Given the limitations of the data analyzed here, the reasons for the differences among retired police officers and other retired workers with regard to mortality largely remain speculative. However, the findings suggest that additional attention to health concerns and issues among current and retired officers may be warranted in policy as well as in research.


Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is one of the most variable inherited human disorders. It is characterized by the involvement of multiple tissues and is caused by the expansion of a highly unstable CTG repeat. Variation in disease severity is partially accounted for by the number of CTG repeats inherited. However, the basis of the variable tissue-specific symptoms is unknown. We have determined that an unusual Dutch family co-segregating DM1, Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy, encephalopathic attacks and early hearing loss, carries a complex variant repeat at the DM1 locus. The mutation comprises an expanded CTG tract at the 5'-end and a complex array of CTG repeats interspersed with multiple GGC and CCG repeats at the 3'-end. The complex variant repeat tract at the 3'-end of the array is relatively stable in both blood DNA and the maternal germ line, although the 5'-CTG tract remains genetically unstable and prone to expansion. Surprisingly though, even the pure 5'-CTG tract is more stable in blood DNA and the maternal germ line than archetypal DM1 alleles of a similar size. Complex variant repeats were also identified at the 3'-end of the CTG array of approximately 3-4% of unrelated DM1 patients. The observed polarity and the stabilizing effect of the variant repeats implicate a cis-acting modifier of mutational dynamics in the 3'-flanking DNA. The presence of such variant repeats very likely contributes toward the unusual symptoms in the Dutch family and additional symptomatic variation in DM1 via affects on both RNA toxicity and somatic instability.


An efficient tandem route to novel amino-indazolo[3′,2′:2,3]imidazo[1,5-c]quinazolin-6(5H)-ones has been explored. The reaction proceeds via a cascade involving an Ugi-variant Groebke–Blackburn–Bienayme (GBB) reaction that occurs through the in situ generation of a spirocyclic intermediate, which undergoes sequential ring opening via a [1,5]-hydride shift followed by an intramolecular nucleophilic reaction of the newly generated isocyanate to furnish complex polyheterocyclic frameworks. The main advantages of this protocol include short reaction time, excellent yield, easy work-up, operational simplicity and the absence of extraction and chromatographic purification steps.


The aim of this work is to study the attainable velocities for a supersonic diffuser. Numerical analysis is carried out to identify the supersonic characteristics. The deceleration of air from free stream supersonic velocities in the 2D channel has been studied and analysed at a specific altitude. Ramp instalment maximizes the total pressure recovery. The geometry is generated in CATIA software and 2-D flow numerical simulation is done using ANSYS-CFD V15.0. Flow analysis is done by keeping the altitude constant and varying the inlet Mach number. A comprehensive study from the analysis provides the range in which Mach number at the inlet can be varied for a supersonic aircraft. The obtained flow phenomena in the supersonic diffuser domain are reported with the help of Mach number, static pressure, and velocity plots.


Abstract To investigate the effect of macromolecular transport and the incorporation of protein aggregate impurities in growing crystals, experiments were performed on the International Space Station (ISS) and compared with control experiments performed in a 1G laboratory environment. Crystal growth experiments for hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) and Plasmodium falciparum glutathione S-transferase (PfGST) were monitored using the ISS Light Microscopy Module (LMM). Experiments were performed applying the liquid–liquid counter diffusion crystallization method using rectangular, optically transparent capillaries. To analyze the quantity of impurity incorporated into growing crystals, stable fluorescently labeled protein aggregates were prepared and subsequently added at different percent concentrations to nonlabeled monomeric protein suspensions. For HEWL, a covalent cross-linked HEWL dimer was fluorescently labeled, and for PfGST, a stable tetramer was prepared. Crystallization solutions containing different protein aggregate ratios were prepared. The frozen samples were launched on 19.02.2017 via SpaceX-10 mission and immediately transferred to a -80°C freezer on the ISS. Two series of crystallization experiments were performed on ISS, one during 26.02.2017 to 10.03.2017 and a second during 16.06.2017 to 23.06.2017. A comparison of crystal growth rate and size showed different calculated average growth rates as well as different dimensions for crystals growing in different positions along the capillary. The effect of macromolecular mass transport on crystal growth in microgravity was experimentally calculated. In parallel, the percentage of incorporated fluorescent aggregate into the crystals was monitored utilizing the fluorescent LMM and ground-based fluorescent microscopes.


Abstract  Prokineticins are novel peptides with reported effects on gastrointestinal contractility. Prokineticin actions are mediated by distinct prokineticin receptors (PKR1 and PKR2). This study investigated the role of prokineticin 1 in colonic contractility as well as sites of expression of its receptor in the mouse proximal colon by immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy. Prokineticin 1 suppressed giant contractions in circular muscle. The inhibitory effect of prokineticin 1 on giant contractions was blocked by the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N(omega)‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME). In vitro, prokineticin 1 stimulated nitric oxide release from longitudinal muscle‐myenteric plexus cultures. This effect was blocked by l‐NAME. PKR1 is expressed on myenteric plexus neurons and colocalizes with a small subset of nNOS expressing neurons. This study suggests that PKR1 mediates an inhibitory effect in vitro, most likely through direct or indirect stimulation of nitric oxide release. PKR1 and its natural ligand, prokineticin 1 may be important for modulation of colonic motility.


We observe shakeup processes in the photoluminescence spectra of a two-dimensional electron gas in a GaAs/AlxGa12xAs quantum well at high magnetic fields. We find that when the electrons occupy only the lowest Landau level these processes are strongly suppressed. We show that this behavior can be accounted for by first-principles calculations. We use the same considerations to explain the giant intensity of the shakeup line, which appears just below the main luminescence line. @S0163-1829 ~97!08439-7#


This study investigates religious communication in social media by analyzing messages sent to God on Twitter. More specifically, the goal of this research is to map and analyze the various contexts in which God is addressed on Twitter, and how the tweets may reflect religious beliefs, ritual functions, and life issues. Using content analysis techniques and phenomenography, tweets addressing God were investigated. The results of this descriptive and indicative study show that religion and religiosity are communicated on Twitter in a manner that creates a unique sphere in which praise and profanities coexist. The tweets in the sample vary a great deal in their content and communicative function, ranging from profanities to prayers and from requests to win the lottery to conversations with and comments about God. Some tweets address God as a form of humour or satire, cursing, or otherwise without any deeper religious intention, while other tweets are apparently genuine messages directed to the transcendent, prayers, with which the senders want to show and share their belief with their followers on Twitter.


Under a contract with the National Cancer Institute, we have developed a research interface to an ultrasound system. This ultrasound research interface (URI) is an optional feature providing several basic capabilities not normally available on a clinical scanner. The URI can store high-quality beamformed radio-frequency data to file for off-line processing. Also, through an integrated user interface, the user is provided additional control over the B-mode receive aperture and color flow ensemble size. A third major capability is the ability to record and playback macro files. In this paper, we describe the URI and illustrate its use on three research examples: elastography, computed tomography, and spatial compounding


Abstract Substance abuse counselors are vulnerable to burnout, which has negative repercussions for the counselor, employing organization, and clients. However, little is known about differences in counselor burnout from the counselors' perspective in rural versus urban treatment centers. In 2008, focus group data from 28 rural and urban counselors in a southern state were analyzed, revealing three burnout themes across all counselors: causes, consequences, and prevention. However, there were various differences between rural and urban counselors in subthemes, with only rural counselors citing office politics and low occupational prestige as causes of burnout. Only urban counselors reported responses endorsing the subthemes of role reversal, clients trying to choose their counselors, and changing jobs as consequences of burnout. All counselors cited coworker support, clinical supervision, and self-care as important strategies for managing burnout. In sum, context clearly matters as rural counselors cited more causes of burnout; yet, the implications of burnout are universal in that they often lead to poor quality clinical care. There is a continued need for greater understanding of addiction as a disease, which would reduce stigma, especially in rural areas, as well as increase the prestige and earning potential of the substance abuse counseling occupation.


Summary This paper focuses on the theme of religious conflict within the working class in inter-war Scotland. It pays particular attention to the Protestant working class of the industrial lowlands and to the role of the exclusively Protestant secret society of Irish origin, the Orange Order. It attempts to explain why the inter-war period saw an upsurge in membership of sectarian organisations like the Orange Order and their activities; and at the same time was notable for a broadening of Labour Party support among the working class which transcended religious divisions. It argues that sectarian and class loyalties often went together and in some ways reinforced each other. The Orange Order leadership's Conservative politics is stressed but it is contended that the Order's appeal to the working class was to a large extent based on issues such as education and mixed marriages and perceived Irish Catholic immigration, issues which did not break down neatly into party political terms. It is argued that the Orange Order's social role was of great significance in this period of economic austerity and mass unemployment.


Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing and is associated with adverse outcomes for both mother and child. The metabolic demands of pregnancy can reveal a predisposition for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and women with a history of GDM are more likely to develop T2DM than women with normoglycemic pregnancies. Aim The aim of this study was to explore midwives' and diabetes nurses' experience of their role in screening, care, and follow-up of women with gestational diabetes mellitus and, further, to explore their opinions and thoughts about existing routines and guidelines. Method Individual interviews were performed with ten diabetes nurses and eight midwives working in primary and special care. Qualitative content analysis was done according to Graneheim and Lundman. Results The analysis of the interviews resulted in the overall theme "An act of balance between normalcy and illness, working for motivation with dilemmas throughout the chain of health care." Difficulties in carrying out the important task of handling GDM while at the same time keeping the pregnancy in focus were central. Women were described as highly motivated to maintain a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy with the baby in mind, but it seemed difficult to maintain this after delivery, and compliance with long-term follow-up with the aim of reducing the risk of T2DM was low. The women came to the first follow-up but did not continue with later contact. This was at a time when the women felt healthy and were focusing on the baby and not themselves. A lack of cooperation and easy access to a dietician and physiotherapist were pointed out as well as a wish for resources such as group activities and multiprofessional teams.


In this paper, a multi-source power manager (PM) is applied using different types of energy harvesting WSN. Specifically, this PM is embedded in both thermal and solar-powered WSN in order to adapt the consumed energy of the node by changing its wake-up period according to the harvested energy. Experimental results performed on real WSN platforms show that our PM is able to make harvesting nodes converge to Energy Neutral Operation (ENO) with a theoretically infinite system lifetime.


Background : Five-year relative survival rates (5y-RSRs) calculated from the Korean National Cancer Registry (KNCR) data have been reported recently, but the stage distribution among the registered patients is still unknown. We aim to calculate stage-specific 5y-RSRs using a large cancer registry data from one hospital that has contributed 7.1% of the KNCR data between 1999 and 2008. Method : Samsung Medical Center Cancer Registry System has been established since 1994. We identified all cancer patients diagnosed between Nov. 1, 1994 and Dec. 31, 2006 and followed them up through Dec. 31, 2008. We calculated 5y-RSRs using Ederer II expected survival rates. Stage-specific 5y-RSRs were calculated for those cancers that had stage information for more than 50% of the patients. Results : A total of 82,038 cancer records were analyzed. Five-year-RSR had improved with time periods. Five-year-RSR for all cancer was 52.6 % in 1994–1999 and 60.3 % in 2000–2004. During 1999–2006, the highest 5y-RSR was obtained from thyroid, breast and prostate cancers and the lowest from pancreas, gallbladder, and lung cancers. Five-year-RSR for stage I, II, III, and IV cancers were 0.95, 0.80, 0.58, and 0.18, respectively. Site specific 5y-RSR of stomach, liver and lung cancer was 0.99, 0.65, and 0.79, respectively, in stage I, and 0.09, 0.07, and 0.04, respectively, in stage IV. Conclusions : Stage-specific 5y-RSRs among Koreans were comparable to other developed countries, and fairly good for common cancers in Korea such as stomach, liver, and lung cancers. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2011;4(10 Suppl):B25.


We report the structural heterogeneity of recrystallized linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) films (25, 50, and 100 nm in thickness) in the direction normal to the surface, based on in situ grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) and X-ray diffraction (GID) measurements. The GID results have clarified the presence of the edge-on lamellae at the surfaces and in the interior of the LLDPE films prepared on Si substrates as thin as 25 nm in thickness. However, the degree of the crystallinity for the 25 nm thick film was almost half of those for the 50 and 100 nm thick films, while the melting temperature (Tm) for all the films remained unchanged relative to the bulk (Tm = 117 °C). Moreover, the GISAXS results for the 25 nm thick film indicate the structural heterogeneity in the direction normal to the surface: (i) At the polymer/air interface, the presence of the disordered edge-on lamellae which lack well-defined long periods even at T ≪ Tm; (ii) At the polymer/substrate interface, the pe...


Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of paclitaxel and carboplatin (PC) in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients resistant to cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and etoposide (CDE). Patients and Methods: We performed a phase II study with PC in SCLC patients who relapsed within 3 months after first-line treatment with CDE. Paclitaxel administration (175 mg/m2 by a 3-hour intravenous infusion) was followed by a 30-minute infusion of carboplatin (area under the curve 7; Chatelut formula) once every 3 weeks for five cycles. Dexamethasone, clemastine, and ranitidine were standard premedication before every cycle. Results: Included were 35 patients (median age, 59 years; 16 with limited disease and 19 with extensive disease; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of I 1; median time off treatment 6 weeks) who were previously treated with CDE (n 5 33), oral etoposide (n 5 2), and reinduction CDE (n 5 15); only one patient had received three CDE treatments of five cycles. The CDE regimen was followed by local thoracic radiotherapy in seven patients. Hematologic toxicity of grade 3 or 4, for leukopenia was 27% and 6%, for thrombocytopenia 21% and 13%, and for anemia 17% and 0%, respectively, for a total of 132 cycles. Two patients had neutropenic fever; no toxic death occurred. Nonhematologic toxicity was paresthesia CTC grade 3, diarrhea grade 4, and myalgia grade 3 in one patient each. Reversible paresthesia (CTC grade 1 and 2) in toes and fingers was reported in 69% of patients. Thirty-four patients were assessable for response: complete response in two patients, partial response in 23 patients, stable disease in eight patients, and progressive disease in one patient (response rate, 73.5%; 95% confidence interval, 59% to 88%). One patient was found to have atypical carcinoid at pathologic review and was excluded. Median time to progression was 21 weeks (range, 3 to 40 weeks). Median survival was 31 weeks (range, 6 to 112 weeks). One-year survival was 9%. Conclusion: Second-line PC in CDE-resistant SCLC patients yields a high response rate and seems non‐crossresistant to CDE. Toxicity was mild in these poorprognosis patients. J Clin Oncol 17:927-932. r 1999 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.


The objective of this study was to examine to what extent the anatomic characteristics of the upper airway can influence the effect of nocturnal wearing of dentures on the sleep of edentulous elders with untreated sleep apnea. This study used the data from a randomized crossover clinical trial and an exploratory approach to address its objectives. Cone beam computed tomography scans of 65 edentulous individuals (female, n = 37; male, n = 28; mean ± SD age, 74.54 ± 6.42 y) with untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were used to identify anatomic variables. Polysomnography data were collected by means of one portable overnight recording. The respiratory variable values, including apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), with and without denture worn during sleep were used to calculate the change. Statistical analyses included multiple linear regressions, cluster analysis, and binary logistic regressions. A receiver operator characteristic curve was used to illustrate the accuracy of the statistical model. The regression model explained 15.8% (R2) of AHI change. An increase in the lateral dimension of the minimum cross-sectional area was associated with a decrease in AHI, oxygen desaturation index, and respiratory arousal index changes (P ≤ 0.041). Furthermore, an increase in the length of the hypopharynx was associated with an increase in AHI and oxygen desaturation index changes (P ≤ 0.027). An increase in the lateral dimension of the minimum cross-sectional area of the upper airway was associated with a decreased likelihood of being in the group having a worsened AHI (odds ratio = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.76 to 0.95; P = 0.006). An increase in the length of the oropharynx was associated with an increased likelihood of having increased AHI (odds ratio = 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.20; P = 0.026). The nocturnal aggravation of respiratory variables in edentulous individuals with OSA who wear dentures at night can be linked to certain anatomic characteristics of the upper airway. Replication of these findings may open novel avenues for personalized advice regarding nocturnal wearing of dentures in edentulous individuals with OSA (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01868295).


Quinoa is a pseudocereal originating from the Andean regions. Despite quinoa's long cultivation history, genetic analysis of this crop is still in its infancy. We aimed to localize quantitative trait loci (QTL) contributing to the phenotypic variation of agronomically important traits. We crossed the Chilean accession PI-614889 and the Peruvian accession CHEN-109, which depicted significant differences in days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, panicle length, and thousand kernel weight (TKW), saponin content, and mildew susceptibility. We observed sizeable phenotypic variation across F2 plants and F3 families grown in the greenhouse and the field, respectively. We used Skim-seq to genotype the F2 population and constructed a high-density genetic map with 133,923 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs). Fifteen QTL were found for ten traits. Two significant QTL, common in F2 and F3 generations, depicted pleiotropy for days to flowering, plant height, and TKW. The pleiotropic QTL harbored several putative candidate genes involved in photoperiod response and flowering time regulation. This study presents the first high-density genetic map of quinoa that incorporates QTL for several important agronomical traits. The pleiotropic loci can facilitate marker-assisted selection in quinoa breeding programs.


A new class of FIR filtering algorithms and VLSI architectures based on the multirate approach were recently proposed. They not only reduce the computational complexity in FIR filtering, but also retain attractive implementation-related properties such as regularity and multiply-and-accumulate structure. In addition, the multirate feature can be applied to low-power/high-speed VLSI implementation. These properties make the multirate FIR filtering very attractive in many DSP and communication applications. In this paper, we propose a novel adaptive filter based on this new class of multirate FIR filtering structures. The proposed adaptive filter inherits the advantages of the multirate structures such as low computational complexity and low-power/high-speed applications. Moreover, the multirate feature helps to improve the convergence property of the adaptive filters.


The state of materials and accordingly the properties of structures are changing over the period of use, which may influence the reliability and quality of the structure during its life-time. Therefore identification of the model parameters of the system is a topic which has attracted attention in the content of structural health monitoring. The parameters of a constitutive model are usually identified by minimization of the difference between model response and experimental data. However, the measurement errors and differences in the specimens lead to deviations in the determined parameters. In this article, the Choboche model with a damage is used and a stochastic simulation technique is applied to generate artificial data which exhibit the same stochastic behavior as experimental data. Then the model and damage parameters are identified by applying the sequential Gauss-Markov-Kalman filter (SGMKF) approach as this method is determined as the most efficient method for time consuming finite element model updating problems among filtering and random walk approaches. The parameters identified using this Bayesian approach are compared with the true parameters in the simulation, and further, the efficiency of the identification method is discussed. The aim of this study is to observe whether the mentioned method is suitable and efficient to identify the model and damage parameters of a material model, as a highly non-linear model, for a real structural specimen using a limited surface displacement measurement vector gained by Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and to see how much information is indeed needed to estimate the parameters accurately even by considering the model error and whether this approach can also practically be used for health monitoring purposes before the occurrence of severe damage and collapse.